Virginia Tech's Antone Exum is out for opener against Alabama

Beamer talks about Brandon Facyson and Donaldven Manning needing to step up with Exum out

Beamer talks about Brandon Facyson and Donaldven Manning needing to step up with Exum out

Norm Wood, nwood@dailypress.com | 757-247-4642

BLACKSBURG — While Virginia Tech defensive backs coach Torrian Gray is optimistic cornerback Antone Exum will be ready to play when the schedule features Atlantic Coast Conference opponents, it's clear Exum won't be on the field for the opener against Alabama.

Exum, who in January suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, lateral and medial meniscus tears and a broken bone in his right knee, met Monday in Pensacola, Fla., with renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews. The result of the meeting was Exum will have his knee re-tested in one-and-a-half to two months and he won't play during that time, according to Tech trainer Mike Goforth.

"He doesn't want to believe that," Goforth said. "That's typical Antone, but that just leads to his motivation and toughness. … He's still got a lot of work to do. The fact that he's not ready is not anything indicative of his work ethic during this process. He's been phenomenal."

Goforth said typical ACL injuries take six-to-eight months to rehabilitate, but he added the severity of Exum's injury may result in 10-to-12 months of rehab.

Exum, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound senior from Glen Allen who wasn't in Blacksburg on Monday evening, will be in practice Tuesday wearing a blue jersey, which indicates no contact and limited participation. Goforth said the training staff wants Exum to work on individual drills, which are the best form of rehab for him at this point.

Gray said he hopes to have Exum back for the meat of Tech's ACC schedule. Tech opens the season Aug. 31 against Alabama in Atlanta. Virginia Tech's first ACC game is Sept. 26 — a Thursday night — at Georgia Tech.

"If we can get him healthy for the rest of the season, and the start of our ACC play, it's not the worst thing in the world," Gray said. "Antone is going to have aspirations beyond Virginia Tech, so we want to make sure he's healthy and do what's right for him.

"As a competitor and as a player, yeah, he would love to play against Alabama. We would love to have him against Alabama, but right now, we've got to roll with what we're getting."

Last season, Exum was chosen second team All-ACC after leading the conference with 21 pass breakups and pacing Tech with five interceptions. He's been a starter for the past two seasons, and was a starter at safety in the 2011 season.

With Exum out, true freshman Brandon Facyson and sophomore Donaldven Manning were listed Monday as co-No. 1s at cornerback on Tech's first depth chart of the preseason. Senior Kyle Fuller is entering his third full season as a starter at Tech's other cornerback spot.